Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food choices among the working-age adult residents of Lithuania

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic affected the nutrition of various populations. Assuming that the majority of the population of working-age residents of Lithuania know healthy nutrition recommendations and that food selection criteria might serve as an indicator of the following them, we aimed to assess the food selection criteria during and after the COVID-19 pandemic among working-age adult residents of Lithuania. Materials and methods Three cross-sectional surveys among working-age adult residents of Lithuania were carried out: in 2019 (before the pandemic), in 2021 (during the pandemic), and in 2022 (after the pandemic). In 2019, this study included 1007 residents, 1600 residents were surveyed in 2021, also, 1600 residents were surveyed in 2022. Distribution of the respondents by food selection criteria was compared between the samples according to gender, age, marital status, education level, place of residence, employment, income. Results The COVID-19 pandemic affected the food choices of Lithuanian residents (p < 0.05). In 2019, products’ benefits for health criterion was in the third place when choosing foods. It was indicated by 22% of the respondents. In 2019, the most prevalent criterion for selecting foods was taste. It was indicated by 37% of the respondents. The second most prevalent food selection criterion was the price. It was indicated by 24% of the sample. In 2021 selection of foods because of products’ health benefits became the most prevalent and accounted for 31% of the sample. In 2022, it returned back to the prepandemic level and accounted for 19% of the sample. In all social and demographic groups changes in food selection criteria remained as well (p < 0.05). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the food choices of working-age adult residents of Lithuanian. Changes of food selection criteria were observed within the different groups of gender, age, marital status, education level, place of residence, employment, income. Key messages • The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the food choices of working-age adult residents of Lithuanian. • Less than a year after the pandemic food selection according to its health benefits rapidly decreased and returned back to the prepandemic level.